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After that last drop of wine is gone, the last finger foods nibbled, and the last guest happily wanders out, you just want to enjoy the night and clean up in the morning– BUT WAIT– what about all those dripping glasses all over your new wood furniture?! Whose idea was it to serve ice?! Call it ‘Lord of the UN-Rings,’ but no one wants to wake up to three dozen tennis-ball-sized rings all over their coffee table after an awesome soiree. One thing is a must: COASTERS.

Coasters do not have to be overindulged nor do they have to be boring. For example, a creative way for guests to never forget their coaster is to actually attach the coaster to the glass! DimmalimmHome has made these adorable coasters that slip over the bottom of stemware and come in a variety of colors and are for sale on Etsy.

The next coaster would be great for a game night or a book club: Scrabble Coasters. Again, this little jewel comes from Etsy and is by MadeByMarcy. I guarantee this will be a conversation starter especially if guests do not know one another! For you DIY-ers out there, here is a tutorial to make your own Scrabble Coasters.

A project I would like to give a whirl for a larger party is DIY coasters. Design Sponge had a great idea that is economical and can be customized. I think they look like little crackers and would look great with a cheese, crackers, and wine spread! Or maybe sewing or stenciling on different designs to customize for any holiday or festivity!

And another DIY coaster that is a little more substantial is made from 4 x 4 ceramic tiles. I think this is cute for little hostess gifts or small friend gifts since they can be completely customized. One bride even used it as a creative place card for her wedding [photo: Era Photography, Inc.]. Directions on how to make these little jewels can be found over at On the Journey. On that site is a great step by step tutorial with images.

Remember, the more visible the coasters are, the more likely your guests will use them. Using ones like those mentioned above and placing them on most flat surfaces, people are guaranteed to see them and get the hint. Now you will be free to mingle and the only thing you will have to worry about now is your husband’s work friend trying to organize an impromptu karaoke contest– but at least your wood furniture will won’t be hurt, just your ears. Happy party planning!

And buy something that will actually make the bride-to-be become a little misty eyed more than 600 thread count sheets! The soon-to-be Mrs. will love this customized hanger with her future surname featured in it. From Etsy, this gift also will not break the bank at around $25, and could lend itself to bridesmaids gifts as well (as shown below). Can you imagine the great photographs that will come from this gift? [Photographs are courtesy of http://meganwblog.com/ and Etsy.]

Travel Accessories

After traveling, I found that a passport cover helped keep my passport from getting a curve from stuffing it in bags and purses.

TIP: Make a photocopy of your passport and keep one on person, another with someone from your family, and send one to yourself on your secure email address. If your passport is stolen or lost, it might help expedite your process with the consulate (those lines can be long!).

Trust me, it will rain and you will be searching all the little trinket shops and end up paying €20 for one (true story). It is better to take a small bag-sized umbrella in your purse, and skip the hassle.

Travel Necessities

At some point you might get a scrape or blisters from all that walking around at destinations. It is good to have band-aids and Neosporin on hand, especially if you are not familiar with the language. I had to once explain to a woman in Beijing that I needed motion sickness medicine by making a sign of a boat, swaying, and fake gagging. Yeah, you will want to avoid that.

If you are lucky enough to have extremely light clothes (meaning that you are under the 50 lb limit and can change your tops and bottoms everyday), then you need not worry about the occasional stain on your pant leg. For the rest of us, those jeans can last a few more times with the aid of a Tide To-go pen.

This is MUST in China and Czech Republic (I only know because I’ve encountered paying the bathroom attendant, I’m sure a inflated rate, for toilet paper when I had no other options). A pocket tissue box works well too.

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Samplings

After that last drop of wine is gone, the last finger foods nibbled, and the last guest happily wanders out, you just want to enjoy the night and clean up in the morning– BUT WAIT– what about all those dripping glasses all over your new wood furniture?! Whose idea was it to serve ice?! Call it ‘Lord of the UN-Rings,’ but no one wants to wake up to three dozen tennis-ball-sized rings all over their coffee table after an awesome soiree.

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Man-zan-ita! After securing the manzanita branches in foam, it was time to decorate. The decorations were hand made and extremely cheap and easy to make, but look like a million dollars! The theme of the party was secured in every touch in the centerpiece– from the color scheme to the table card names.

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Beat the dread “Tree Stump” virus that hits guests at party where they become glued to their seats! Tantalize them with creative drinks and names that go with the party theme that will make them say “Hmm, I wonder what a Field Trip Gone Wrong tastes like?”

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Guest can sometimes be stuck to their chairs all night and not socialize. So what is better than a childhood song and a pop quiz?! These activities are made to get some laughs, get people up, and get people learning more about the retiree.

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Whether for teacher appreciation week, end of the year gift, or a teacher’s retirement party, this little pencil vase will be a hit! Just some glue, a plastic container, and some ribbon you can have a unique and great vase!